Upon retirement, several benefits are linked to an obligation to reside in France, and the simple fact of spending too much time outside the territory can be enough to cause them to be lost.
Moving abroad to enjoy a milder climate is attracting more and more French retirees. But behind the postcard decor, certain administrative rules can upset a budget. Indeed, several social benefits, including the solidarity allowance for the elderly (ASPA), are only granted if the person resides in France, which can call into question the decision to emigrate abroad.
The ASPA supplements small pensions to guarantee a minimum income for elderly people with low resources. Its amount can exceed a thousand euros per month for a single person, representing an essential part of the budget of many beneficiaries. Moreover, this aid does not only depend on income: it also requires stable residence on French territory, as explicitly indicated on the official website of the Public Service. In other words, a retiree who settles abroad for a certain period of time can therefore lose this supplement, even if his basic pension continues to be paid.
Additionally, the disappearance of ASPA leads to other cascading effects. The ASI, intended for disabled people with very modest resources, is also based on a condition of residence in France. Added to this is the question of health, since ASPA beneficiaries are in principle entitled to complementary solidarity health insurance, which allows almost full coverage of care without advance payment. When the old age allowance is abolished, so is this cover.
Concretely, a decree published in the Official Journal sets the duration of presence required to benefit from certain benefits, including ASPA, at nine months per year. This amounts to not exceeding three months of absence in a calendar year. This minimum duration of presence appears in official texts and is recalled by public information organizations. To ensure this, the funds can request proof of address and monitor the situation of retirees living outside France, in particular through the annual life certificate required to continue to receive a pension.
On the other hand, pensions paid by basic and supplementary schemes, such as Agirc-Arrco, remain due abroad, but the deductions are changing: certain French social contributions cease to apply, while a specific health insurance contribution can be levied, as explained by Retirement Insurance. Before deciding to settle abroad, it is therefore essential to take a precise look at your resources and the aid received, because the difference can represent several hundred euros per month.
